COSTA MESA – A registered sex offender who was released from county jail two weeks ago is back in jail Thursday after allegedly assaulting a 14-year-old girl on a bus, authorities said.

The mug shot of Curtis Regulus, a 38-year-old transient, was displayed on news web sites and evening broadcasts Wednesday as investigators with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department asked for the public’s help in finding him. Regulus allegedly followed a girl aboard a bus in Anaheim, pushed his body against hers twice, and then threatened the girl as she tried to get away from him.

“Apparently he’s done this before,” said Jim Amormino, spokesman for the sheriff’s department.

Within hours, deputies received more than 20 tips from residents about the location of Regulus, Amormino said.

Regulus, who had been released from county jail on June 11 after completing a 180 day sentence for a sex-related charge, was taken into custody in Costa Mesa Thursday morning after he was recognized and taken into custody by officers with the Costa Mesa Police, Amormino said.

Prosecutors on Thursday announced in a statement that Regulus has been charged with two felony counts of lewd acts upon a 14-year-old child and one felony count of assault with the intent of committing a sexual offense. He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday.

Authorities said Regulus followed the 14-year-old girl after she boarded an Orange County Transportation Authority bus Saturday afternoon, sitting a seat directly behind her. The girl tried to get away from him, but Regulus continued to follow her, Amormino said.

The girl felt so uncomfortable she moved near the driver, but was followed by Regulus there as well.

The girl was trying to exit the bus at Orangethorpe Avenue and Harbor Boulevard in Fullerton when Regulus allegedly came up behind her before the doors opened and pressed himself against her buttocks, according to a statement released by the District Attorney’s office. The girl pushed him away, but he allegedly continued to follow her to the intersection.

The unidentified teenager was waiting for the light to change when Regulus allegedly came up behind her and pushed himself against her buttocks again. The girl pushed him away, but Regulus allegedly grabbed on to her arm.

According to prosecutors, Regulus has been known to frequent the Costa Mesa and Newport Beach area. Anyone with information, or who may have been a victim, is asked to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Randy Litwin at 714-347-8794.